Tuesday, September 14, 2010

The Uncanny X-men

This one is a large painting in gouache and ink I did a little while ago. I've actually painted the original X-men team once before, but not in an action shot or in costume. While I grew up in the 80's and read the Claremont/Byrne comics of the team as a kid, the original lineup of mutants is my favourite. You can check out my various roughs that lead to the final art below:

Originally, I drew up this rough composition, but I hated it since it had so much dead space between figures:

So after some failed tinkering, I sat down and drew up a newer thumbnail which I liked much better. It's hard to read, I know, but it was enough to point me in the right direction:

That thumbnail lead to this new rough, which I used as the basis of the painting:

While the final art is done traditionally in goauche and ink, the roughs and the pencils were done digitally in Alias Sketchbook Pro -- a fun little drawing program I sometimes use for the novelty of drawing on my computer.

I love the original lineup.I wish they'd just hire you to do old school books for people who loved the originals.Like a job only you and a handful of others could handle correctly.The current X-Men...don't do it for me...nor do the art styles chosen for them.

Great job Mike. I couldn't agree with you more... the original X-Men are the best. I loved your take on the team in that X-Men: First Class story you drew awhile ago and this drawing is amazing as well. Love the composition and the classy two-tone coloring.

Please note that I do not do accept any private commissions (comic character sketches, family portraits, etc). I also do not sell any prints of my work online. Sketches and prints can usually be purchased at events that I am personally attending. Thanks for your understanding.